But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. (John 19:34)

Would you walk with me for a moment? It is just a short walk today, but it is a walk I desperately need. Maybe it will help you, too. Do you remember how the Bible tells us of the first marriage? In Genesis 2:18, God says, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:21-22 says, “So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.” Oh, I skipped verse 20. It says that in all creation, there was not found a helper suitable for (or, corresponding to) Adam. God is explaining the reason he made a bride for Adam. Did you notice how he did it? He took a rib from Adam’s side. This is important.

Do you know what happened when Jesus died on the Cross? The soldiers broke the legs of those crucified with Jesus. However, when they came to Jesus, he was already dead. John 19:34 says, “But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.” My dear Christian friend, when God commands us to be holy as he is holy (Leviticus 11:45; 1 Peter 1:16) he is doing more than telling us what we are to do. He is telling us what he is doing. He is making a bride that is suitable for the Lord Jesus Christ. From Adam’s side came his bride. So it is that the Bride of Christ is born of the water and the blood that flowed from his side.

We are daily being made suitable for (corresponding to) Jesus. We are being made more like him and less like ourselves. That may be difficult. It may be challenging. There may be trials. There may be tribulations. There may be contentions from the world and even from those we love. There may be hardships that arise from our own desires. But this is a beautiful truth: God is making a bride suitable for Christ. It is for this reason that we are told to rejoice always. Every trial and tribulation is being used by our Savior to make us fit for him. What we do not know, he knows. Is it a day of uncertainty and hardship? Yes. But, if I may offer some encouragement as we conclude our brief walk, cling to this: It is immeasurable love that makes the bride of Christ. For this reason, the Only-Begotten Son left his Father that he might cleave unto his wife, that the two might become one flesh, and that she might be with him forever. This is his promise to all who believe.

Thank you for the walk.

Soli Deo Gloria.